<A JOURNEY IN THE EAST: 269 



for we had shot two Lynxes, seven Wolves, two Ichneumon s, 

 two Desert-Hares, four Pelicans, two Ospreys, one Egyptian 

 Vulture, one Long-legged Buzzard, and one hundred and 

 seventy-two head of smaller game, among which were many 

 interesting specimens. 



We dined in the so-called waiting-room, and as it was now 

 evening and our train stood ready, we had all the traps put 

 into the carriages and soon left Ahouksor on our way to a new 

 expedition. Baron Saurma, his brother, and Prince Taxis 

 travelled with us for the first two hours ; but when we reached 

 the valley of the Nile and the station where the line goes 

 north to Cairo and south to Siut these three gentlemen 

 left us. 



After a hearty farewell we proceeded southwards towards 

 Siut, the next stage on our way to the charming journey up 

 the Nile, and making ourselves as comfortable as we could in 

 the carriages, we all slept the sleep that had been earned by 

 hard work. 



We reached Siut very early in the morning, and, going on 

 board our Nile steamer, began the journey up the waters of 

 the river of Egypt an expedition undeniably one of the 

 richest in historical, ethnographical, and scenic attractions 

 that can possibly be undertaken. 



We hurried past towns and hamlets, where light-green 

 palms, lofty minarets, and broad pigeon-towers form the lead- 

 ing features of the clay-built villages, in whose ruinous con- 

 fusion there lies an undoubted artistic charm. Countless 

 kites fly round these human settlements, and the barking of 

 dogs, the braying of donkeys, the bellowing of buffaloes, the 

 groaning of camels, the screams of the Arabs, the creaking of 

 the water-wheels, and dust, dirt, and disorder are their usual 

 accessories. 



On the long sandbanks the white Egyptian Vultures and 

 their larger relatives sit by the stranded carcasses, and flocks 



